2 min read Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not slowing down. In 2025, Black Friday sales are projected to reach 11.7 billion dollars, and Cyber Monday is expected to surpass 14 billion dollars. If your warehouse is not ready, this huge opportunity can quickly turn into chaos.
For most brands, the holiday season accounts for more than 20 percent of their yearly revenue. And with shoppers starting earlier than ever, many well before November, it is critical to start your peak season preparation now.
Here are five things you need to be doing today to better prepare for the holiday season ahead.
1. Lock in Inventory Early
Start by running an ABC analysis to identify your high velocity products. Stock those first and reduce purchase quantities for slow movers. The goal is to keep your top sellers flowing while freeing up space and cash for the products that actually move.
2. Prepare Your Warehouse for Volume
Revisit your warehouse layout and pick paths to minimize travel time. Group high volume SKUs near your main packing area, and make sure every location is clearly labeled. When order volume doubles, even small workflow improvements can have a massive impact.
3. Forecast and Monitor in Real Time
Review your order data from last year’s holiday period to set reorder points and safety stock levels. You want visibility into what is running low before it becomes a problem, not while customers are waiting.
4. Simplify Fulfillment
Batch picking, barcode verification, and automated shipping labels help keep your team moving fast and accurately. Every extra click or walk across the warehouse adds up when you are shipping hundreds of orders a day.
5. Evaluate After the Rush
When the holiday rush is over, measure what worked and what did not. Look at which SKUs sold the fastest, where bottlenecks formed, and how much labor time went into fulfillment. These insights will shape next year’s efficiency and profitability.
Closing Thoughts
BFCM success is not just about selling more, it is about fulfilling smarter. The brands that plan, measure, and stay organized now will be the ones still standing strong when the rush hits.
Ready to get your warehouse ready for BFCM 2025?
Schedule a free walkthrough with our team and see how SKULabs can help you prep for peak season and beyond.
